No doubt "Star Trek: First Contact" was the biggest of the TNG movies and it's a well-known fact that the franchise from this movie was big. While "Star Trek Nemesis" only had action figures, "First Contact" had those, ships, and much more. I am happy to say for all the TNG readers that the book is just a big a hit as the movie was! It does this great action movie justice with words. It seems that J.M. Dillard is the only one to be trusted with the books that stay true to the movies and what she is trusted with she does well. If you were even outside a coma in 1996, then you've probably seen the "First Contact" movie and know the story. This book just adds to it. The opening scene with Captain Jean-Luc Picard recalling his time on the Borg cube is put into much more detail. The mechanical sounds, blankness at the same time as detail, and the horror of losing yourself is all within those few pages. The bursting of the Borg servo through his skin makes you jump and see the movie scene again in your mind. Beyond the great writing detail, the story is kept the same. Starfleet Command sends the new "Enterprise-E" off to do a patrol mission along the Neutral Zone because they don't trust the former 'Locutus'. After hearing how bad the battle is going, Picard goes against orders and makes a rush for the battle at Earth. They arrive just in time to follow a Borg sphere back into time. The "Enterprise-E" suddenly finds themselves alone with the Borg and back in time with Worf onboard for the ride. With some success, the "Enterprise" destroys the Borg sphere to stop it from firing down on Earth. After the destruction is done, the crew finds out that the sphere was trying to stop the first warp flight and prevent Earth's first contact with the Vulcans. An away team is dispatched to locate the "Phoenix" and Zefram Cochrane. The next chapter starts and we learn about how Lily met Zefram before his great dream. We learn of the destruction of the third world war, of her mother's death, and that day she laid eyes on the man that would make history. Too bad history forgot some details that the "Enterprise" crew would soon find out the hard way. Zefram and the "Phoenix" are located in time for the ship to be fixed with the crew's help and he would fly the ship on schedule. Picard returns to his ship worried about some environmental problems and discovers he has his own problem while his first officer fights to keep history. The Borg had beamed over to the "Enterprise" when they realized their ship was doomed. Now they were using the "Enterprise-E" as their new ship and taking it over, deck by deck. Data is kidnapped and he comes face-to-face with someone that not even Picard remembers; the Borg Queen. Now they must not only fight for the past, but also fight for their future. Somehow the crew must work together towards one goal while they are all split apart and attacking from different sides. I like Dillard's writing and how she just uses words to enhance the storytelling instead of changing things about it. You learn more about the characters and the story has more depth with her writing. No doubt that "First Contact" was a great movie, but Dillard makes it a great book too. I enjoyed this book a lot and suggest it to anyone really. You don't have to have a Star Trek fan or a Trekkie to enjoy this. That is what is so great about "First Contact". It's a story for entertainment and Dillard kept the book along the same lines.
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Title: First Contact
Author: J.M. Dillard
Review by: CL6 Amanda Sielu Paris
2-16-05
